The Tribune

By NICO SCAVELLA

Tribune Staff Reporter

nscavella@tribunemedia.net

FOUR men charged in connection with the first murder of 2015 said on Friday they "volunteered" to assist police in their investigations before they were allegedly detained and subsequently hauled before the courts.

James Philistin, 39 of Twynham Heights, and Rodnel Polydor, 28 of Clifton Street, appeared before Chief Magistrate Joyann Ferguson-Pratt for the murder of Shawn Kemp, aka "Papa," who was gunned down while sitting in his car on January 4.

Philistin and Polynor were also charged with the attempted murder of Kendrae Knowles, who was reportedly shot the same day at Madeira Street. Philistin and Polynor also faced two counts of possession of an unlicenced firearm - a Glock 357 pistol and a Taurus 9mm pistol - and one count of possession of two live rounds of 9mm ammunition.

 Another two, Richardo Richardson, 25, of Big Pond, and Devon Rolle, 29, of Poinciana Avenue, were charged with accessory after the fact in Kemp's murder.

However, Rolle told the Chief Justice that none of the men were arrested by officers, but had gone to the Central Detective Unit of their "own will" after assisting police as they investigated.

He said he was allegedly personally given a gun to hold by a security officer, before opting to hide it under a piece of wood. He said sometime after that, the men "volunteered" to go to CDU of the own free will.

"I was told there would not be any charges filed against us so I would not need a lawyer," Rolle said.

He also claimed that after not being released by officers, the men were denied phone calls and were not allowed "any privileges or contact with the outside world".

Polydor subsequently claimed he suffered from hypertension.

Justice Ferguson-Pratt noted the claims and requested that all four men be "afforded the opportunity contact their families.". She also made a request on Polydor's behalf to allow him to take medication to remedy his alleged hypertension.

None of the men was required to enter a plea for their charges.

The matter was adjourned until March 23, and the men were both remanded to the Fox Hill Department of Correctional Services until that time.

Kemp was sitting in his Honda Accord at Deliverance Way off Malcolm Road when a man armed with a handgun fired several shots at him before fleeing on foot. He later died in hospital. 

Knowles' attempted murder came as part of the country's second homicide. According to reports, a man was at a nightclub on Madeira Street when he got into an argument with another man.

The first man left the club and returned about an half hour later with a friend, now the deceased, on a motorbike. The first man’s friend is said to have produced a handgun and discharged shots at the man who was involved in the earlier argument. The latter returned fire, hitting the deceased in his head, stomach and chest.

The man, reportedly Knowles, who had returned with the deceased, was shot in the leg. The deceased was pronounced dead at the scene.

Another man, Michael Renaldo Mackey, 22 of Yellow Elder, was yesterday charged with the murder of Randy McNeil on December 29. Mackey was also charged with assault with a deadly weapon for his October 20 assault on an individual with a firearm.

McNeil, 29, was reportedly at a local bar at Matthew Street when he got into an argument with another man. McNeil left the bar and was on his way home when several gunshots were fired at him. He was reportedly shot in his chest and was pronounced dead at the scene.

According to police, McNeil was on bail and was being electronically monitored for a serious offence.

Mackey was not required to enter a plea for the murder, and the matter was adjourned by Chief Justice Ferguson-Pratt to March 23 when a Voluntary Bill of Indictment will be read. He was remanded to the Fox Hill Department of Correctional Services.

Regarding the assault charge, Mackey pleaded not guilty and chose to charged in a Magistrate's court. That matter was transferred to Court # 6 on February 4, where he will stand before Magistrate Caroyln Vogt-Evans.